Foot Locker Foundation surprised Marshall Fundamental Secondary School senior star athlete Samantha James with a $20,000 college scholarship check at a school assembly Thursday morning.

The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program offers 20 college scholarships to 20 outstanding student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities.

Among a long list of accolades at a young age, James was named the captain of the varsity volleyball and softball teams two years in a row, has maintained a 3.98 GPA, and was awarded Female Scholar-Athlete and volleyball Most Valuable Player during her senior season.

She plans to attend the University of California Los Angeles in the fall.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get the scholarship, but I was really hoping to,” said James after receiving the $20,000 check in front of a packed auditorium. “This will help a lot paying for my [college] housing,” added James.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Foot Locker Foundation, Inc., through its program Foot Locker Scholar Athletes, is honoring twenty exceptional high school student-athletes with $20,000 college scholarships.

The program has awarded 80 scholarships totaling $1.6 million dollars to date.

James wants to study Political Science and African American studies.

“I hope to be a social justice lobbyist so I can help create laws to battle systematic racism,” said James.

James’ passion is advocating for others and she has received numerous awards, including the Yellow Rose Service Award, the Mission Bell Service Award, and the Hourglass Service Award.

James also led an advocacy campaign and student protest to save the American Sign

Language program at her school.

“The District was trying to cut the American Sign Language Program, which would’ve affected all of the students and their college eligibility and they didn’t give our teacher enough notice so we went to the district and we campaigned to keep the program and they ended up keeping it district-wide,” said James.

James says her successful grassroots effort inspired her to pursue a career in policymaking.

“Seeing how many people responded and just seeing how much one action can do for other people and how much one voice really matters was crazy,” said James about the campaign which gathered 2,500 signatures in three days.

James also holds leadership positions in clubs such as Black Student Union, Key Club, and Empowered Leaders, and hopes to work for the NAACP and promote racial equality.

James says her parents are proud of her and are thrilled to receive some extra money towards her college education.